No decision on re-opening Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 20:00 GMT]
The conference held Thursday at the office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Jaffna to discuss the opening of the Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road ended without a decision. The matter will be taken up for discussion at the meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalization, which is scheduled to be held on December 14, conference sources said.

The conference was held as planned at an earlier meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalization held at Muhamaalai on November 16.

The Defence Ministry Additional Secretary Mr.Karaliadde, Brigadier Upali Edirisinghe, Commanding Officer of Kilali-Nagarkovil Brigade, Jaffna SLA commander Major General Sarath Fonseka and Lt Colonel Silva participated as representatives of the government. The LTTE was represented by its Jaffna district political head Mr.Ilamparuthi, Lt. Colonel Arivu, Valigamam Sea Tigers political head Iniyavan and Arunan. Maruthankerni Assistant Government Agent Mr.V.P.Velauthapillai also attended the conference.

The LTTE delegation pointed out the urgency of opening the Nagarkovil-Point Pedro road as about ten thousand displaced have resettled in the Chundikulam and Chempianpattu areas. Refusing to allow the displaced to resettle after signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the LTTE will be considered as a violation, the LTTE delegation reportedly stressed during the discussion.

Sri Lanka Army officials at the conference cited security reasons against the opening of the Naagarkovil road. At the conclusion it was decided to refer the matter to the next meeting of the Sub Committee on De-escalation and Normalisation.